Nearly 80 roads in the county have been reported as having high water or being washed out, and Tippecanoe Valley Schools was closed today because of flooding.
According to Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Dennis Pletcher, county crews were out all day Tuesday putting up high water signs throughout the county.
Pletcher said that today, with the steep drop in temperatures, crews are now loading up trucks with salt and sand preparing to treat flooded areas that are now turning into ice.
Tippecanoe Valley Schools were closed due to flooding that left many roads leading to the schools undriveable.In a list provided by WRSW, Warsaw Community Schools, Sacred Heart Elementary, Warsaw Christian Schools, Lakeland Christian Academy, Whitko, Wawasee and Whitley County Consolidated Schools were all under a two-hour delay this morning while Triton was under a one-hour delay.
This morning, a call over dispatch stated that the intersection of Ind. 25 and CR 750W was closed.
According to a release of roads county highway crews have responded to, CR 200s between Ind. 19 and CR 950W also is closed.
Other roads that are closed are:
- CR1200S between CR 400E to Ind. 13
- CR 900S between CR 400E to Ind. 13
- CR 400E between CR 850S to CR 900S
- CR 400W between CR 750S to CR 800S
- CR 1200S between Ind. 15 to Peru
- CR 350S between CR 25W to CR 350W
- Sellers Lake between West Channel RD (CR 600S) to Maple Grove
- CR 900S between CR 200N to Ind. 15
- Sellers Lake between Woodland Drive to Lake Shore Drive
- CR 550N between CR 100E to CR 75E
- CR 550 N between CR 75E and CR 100E
- CR 700S between CR 875W to CR 1000W
- CR 200W between CR 700S to CR 800S
- CR 300W north to CR 1350N
- CR 1050W between CR 575N to CR 650N
- CR 450E between CR 100N to Old 30
Pletcher advised drivers to not only avoid roads that are closed but ones with standing water because of the unknown depth of the water.
Those wanting to put up sandbags in their area can go to the Embarq location in Boggs Industrial Park. The county's Emergency Management Agency is providing free sand and bags for area residents. Those interested are directed to bring their own shovels as they will have to put the sand in the bags.
Pletcher said that this year's flooding is different than the flooding the county dealt with in early 2008 but couldn't specifically say why.
"It's different but I can't quite put my finger on it," said Pletcher. "First of all it's later in the year and I think the rain we got this year has been closer together."
Pletcher advised residents the flooding will probably get worse before it gets better, and areas that typically sustain flooding that haven't yet could see the waters rise either tonight or tomorrow.
A total of 77 roads in the county have been reported to have standing water.
There is no rain in the forecast through Sunday, though temperatures are expected to be cooler until Saturday when the high is expected to reach the 50s.
